Media Release

Udupi, Apr 5: Sri Ravi Panara, a renowned Daiva Performer of the region, held an interactive session on the topic ‘Performance and Faith- A Dialogue on Bhuta Worship’ with the students at department of European Studies, MAHE, Manipal on April 2. The session was organised by Centre for Intercultural Studies and Dialogue (CISD), MAHE with an aim to familiarise the students to the living cultures and practices of the region. Notably, the interactive session was held in a bilingual mode. Ideas expressed in Tulu by the speaker was translated to English for the benefit of students.

Ravi Panara highlighted the correlation between ‘faith’ and ‘performance’ in Bhuta Worship by using the analogy of mother-child relationship. Just as the unambiguous faith involved in mother-child bond empowers the child, the relationship between the deity and the devotee helps the individual to progress with confidence in life. It is this ‘faith’ in the divinity that is at once both intensely personal and deeply spiritual has sustained the tradition of Bhuta Worship among the people of Tulunadu.

Dr.Neeta Inamdar, Head, Manipal Centre for European Studies felicitated Sri Ravi Panara for his insightful interactive session.

The event was moderated by Dr Praveen Shetty, assistant professor, department of Humanities and Management, MIT, Manipal. It was coordinated by Dr Prithviraj Kavtar, Editor, Manipal Universal Press and Nitesh Anchan, research coordinator, CISD, MAHE.